Muzio muzzi



` UNITED sfrATEs PATENT oEEicE.

MUZIO MUZZI, OF BOLOGNA, ITALY.

IVIANNER 0F DIRECTING- THE COURSE OF AEROSTATS OR BALLOONS 0F VARIOUS i FORMS.

Specicatonof Letters Patent No. 3,7 99, dated `(Jctober 16, 1844.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MUzio l\/IUzz.I, of` Bologna, inItaly, but `at present residing in the-city of New `York, lN. Y., have invented a new and useful improvement in the `manner of directingthe course of aerostats or `ballons of various forms whether raised by means ofvhydrogen gas or of rarefied air; and I do hereby declare that the following is :a full and exact description thereof.

The balloon which` I undertake to direct by means of my apparatus, I prefer to make of a lenticular form, and I have so represented it in the accompanying drawings. `In `order to direct the balloon in a horizontal line, or in a line differing in anyV desired degree from the horizontal, I decompose its ascending or descending forces by means of inclined planes which turn upon suitable shafts, or axles, under the care of the aero naut. By the resistance of the atmosphere against these planes, either in the ascending, or the descending of the balloon, such ascending, or descending motion may be resolved into a horizontal one. The ascending or descending forces may be governed in the ordinary way, namely, by the discharge of ballast,thereby lessening the specific gravity of the balloon, which will, 4of course, give it an ascending force, or by letting out gas which will increase its specific gravity, and give it a descending force; or, in the case of the employment of one on the mongollier principle, the specific gravity may be increased, or diminished, by increasing, `or diminishing the rarity of the contained air. The planes which I use for the resolving the ascending or descending forces into a progressive one, more or less inclined to the horizontal by the aid of the atmospheric resistance, may be made quadrangular. The shafts` to which they are attached cross the car, where they are received within a tube in which they can turn to the necessary eX- tent. The planes are each capable of turning independently of the other, their respective shafts meeting in the center of the tube, but not being united. They are turned by means of a handle attached to each of them,

and passing through a notch in the tube;

they may be fixed 1n place by means of set screws. At right angles to the shafts that carry the inclined planes I aftlX another shaft, which may also be received within a tube, or be otherwise duly confined in place,

and allowed to revolve to a given extent, like the shafts first named, the motion being, in like manner, governed by a handle. At its outer end, this shaft carries a triangular plane which is `to operate as a rudder; this `plane may bemade to stand vertically, or

be inclined on.. either side, by meanspof the handle attached to its shaft. v

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l,

represents a lenticular balloon, its shortest `diameterbeing presented to the eye; it also shows thetwo quadrangular, inclined planes `attached to their shafts. Fig. 2, represents the balloon at right angles to the position `.in which it is seen in Figl, and shows the triangular plane, or rudder, as attached to its shaft. i l

A, is the body of the balloon. B, `a network which serves to sustain `the car,`and other parts of `the apparatus. 1

C, is a valve o'f the ordinary kind, forthe escape of gas.

D,D, are the quadrangnlar inclined planes, vrhih are attached to the aXes, 0r shafts,

In Fig. 3, I have shown the manner in which the shafts, E, may be arranged and actuated, this figure representing the inner ends of said shafts, and the tube in which their inner ends are contained, in section, and drawn on an enlarged scale. E, E, are the shafts, and O, a tube, crossing, and made fast to, the car; each of these shafts is shown as terminating in the middle of the tube. I", P, are handles attached to the shafts, and passing through notches in the tube, O, for moving lthe planes to their proper angle.

Q, Q, are tightening screws by which the shafts may be permanently held.

The angle which I have found most advantageous for the .planes I), D, is that of 85,o with the horizon. The length of the planes may be equal to that of the longest diameter of a lenticular balloon, and their width equal to that of the shortest; this,

however, will be varied according to the Gr, is the triangular plane, or rudder, the shaft S, of which may enter a tube like that shown in Fig. 3, and it is to be furnished With a handle similarly arranged for turning it, so as to give it any desired inclina-l J, is a stove which may be used to rarefy` the air when a mongolier is employed.

Having thus, fully described the manner in Which I construct and operate my balloon, or aerostat, I Will remark that I am aware that inclined planes have been applied to aerial machines for the purpose of enabling them to ascend by the resistance of the air; it having been attempted to propel such machines by flapping instruments, called Wings, by revolving screws, by paddles, and by other similar means. 'I am also aware that machines thus attempted to be propelled, have been furnished With jointed inclined planes, for the purpose of guiding them, in the manner of the tail of a bird; it is to be understood, therefore, that I do not claim as of my invention the mere application of inclined planes for the decoma progressive line more or less incline to the horizon, by the aid of atmospheric resiste ancewhe'reby the Whole machine is impelled forward, and the direction changed at pleasure, by'altering the inclination of the planes; y

the same being effected substantially as herein described; but it is to be distinctly understood that I do not limit my claim to thel number, or to the form, of the inclinedV planes, or to the particular manner of operating them, or to the manner of obtaining an ascending and descendng force, so iong as the rsame is effected by a change of the specific gravityv of the balloon, which, yit Will be evident, may *be effected by the generation of hydrogen gas, as Wellas by its discharge.

MUZIO MUZZI. Witnesses:

THos.- P. JONES, L. MARTINI. 

